Smoker&#39;s appliance



Oct. 22, 1963 G. A. SMITH SMOKER'S APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 24, 1962 INVENTORZ GLENN A. SMITH BY PATENT AGENT FIG. 5

United States Patent 3,107,674 SMOKERS APPLIANCE Glenn A. Smith, 5935 Yolanda St, Tarzana, Calif. Filed Jan. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 168,451 4 Claims. (31. 131-256) This invention relates to a smokers appliance and more particularly to an improved combined cigarette snufi'er and 'butt holder which may be conveniently carried in suit pockets and purses and which is useful for extinguishing the lighted end of a cigarette, or the like, and for storing extinguished cigarettes for subsequent reuse, the invention including a means for cutting the extinguished burnt end of the cigarette while the extinguished cigarette is stored either in the extinguishing here means or in the butt storage bore means thereof.

It has been recognized, in the past, that it is preferable to extinguish a lighted end of a cigarette in the lack of presence of oxygen so as to preserve the remainder of the cigarette without the danger of contaminating it by the accumulation of nicotine or tars which accumulation is common when a cigarette is extinguished by pressure in the presence of air. However, many such extinguishers have been mainly provided in relatively large and cumbersome receptacles and not easily and conveniently adapted to be carried in suit pockets and purses.

Further, the problem of storing an extinguished cigarette so as not to soil the inside of a pocket or purse is not solved by an open receptacle, such as an ash tray or the like, nor is it practical to carry such an extinguished cigarette in a pocket or purse without some storing means capable of being conveniently carried in such a manner as to avoid crumbling thereof. It is also recognized that in order that a cigarette be more successfully reused, it is more desirable to cut oil the previously burnt end of the cigarette so as to provide a new unburned end of relatively fresh tobacco when relit.

=Frequently, a smoker finds that he has to quickly extinguish a cigarette after it has been pantially used thereby causing considerable waste of the remainder of the cigarette which, when crushed in an ordinary ash tray, is relatively unuseable and if relit results in a relatively strong and distasteful smoke. Also, in this category of smokers, are persons who wish to merely cut down on the consumption of cigarettes rather than attempt to quit the habit entirely. Often, it is desirable to relight a cigarette but it is not convenient to cut the previously burnt end, as when the smoker does not have a pair of scissors or a knife immediately available to him.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved smokers appliance which provides a pocket size body having a blind bore adaptable for the reception of the lighted end of a cigarette for substantially instantaneously extinguishing the lighted end of a cigarette without the danger of spoiling it by the accumulation of nicotine which is common when a cigarette is extinguished by pressure in the presence of air.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved smokers appliance which provides a discrete pocket in which the extinguished cigarette may be stored for future reuse.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved smokers appliance which provides cutter means embodied therein which is useful for cutting off the burnt end of the cigarette after being extinguished so as to remove the burnt portion from the cigarette in the event that it is desired to relight the cigarette for reuse.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved smokers appliance of the character described in which the cutter means is readily available without the necessity of removal of the extinguished cigarette butt.

Bid-L5H Patented Get. 22, 1963 Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved smokers appliance of the character described in which the extinguishing and storing bores of the appliance are readily accessible for cleaning and ash emptying purposes.

An important feature of this invention is the provision of a new and improved smokers appliance of the character described in which improved means are provided for facilitating removal of the stored and extinguished cigarette for reuse and/ or discard thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved smokers appliance of the character described which is economical to manufacture and is capable of mass production and in which heat therefrom is quickly dissipated so that the appliance may be conveniently and safely carried as in a .pocket or purse of a user without danger of combustion therefrom.

These and other objects of this invention will be more apparent from the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, in elevation, of the smokers appliance of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a central vertical, cross-sectional view of the appliance shown in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view thereof as viewed along the plane 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view, similar to FIGURE 3, with a portion thereof shown in another operative position; and

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view, similar to FIGURE 2, of a modified embodiment of this invention, a portion thereof being shown in elevation.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to the preferred embodiment of this invention, illustrated in FIGURES 1-4, inclusive, there is shown by Way of illustration, but not of limitation, a smokers appliance designed and constructed in accordance with this invention and generally designated by the numeral The applicance 16 generally comprises a body including a pair of discrete blocks 11 and 12 of rectilinear or other polygonal configuration, each block having a cutting edge 13 and 14, respectively, defined by one of its relatively-fiat sides. The blocks 11 and 12 are preferably rotatably secured with the cutting side or edges 13 and 14 adjacent to each other as by a fastener 16 extending through one of the blocks, such as the block 12, and anchored in the other of the blocks, such as the block 11.

The fastener 16 herein illustrated, includes a screw having a cylindrical shank 17, a reduced externally threaded end 18, and an enlarged head 19, the threaded end 18 being secured within an internally threaded bore 21 of the block 11 with the shank portion extending through a bore 22 of the block 12 and the head 19 residing in a counterbore 23 of the block 12. Preferably, a resilient spring washer 24 is provided beneath the head 19 so as to bias the cutting edge 13 of the body 12 into contact with the cutting edge 14 of the block 11. From the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, it may be seen that the washer 24 provides resilient pressure uniformly and evenly between the blocks at their meeting edges, faces, etc. In this manner, when the block 12 is rotated relative to the block 11, the cutting edges 13 and 14 cooperate to form a cutting means for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

A pair of blind bores 26 and 27 are provided in the body 19, the bores extending through the block portion 11 and terminating in blind ends 23 and 29, respectively, as viewed in the drawings whereby the bores are intersected by the cutting faces 13 and 14.

The bore 26 is adapted for the reception of a tobacco product, such as a cigarette or the like through its open end 31 for extinguishing a lighted end of the cigarette .vhen desired. To extinguish a cigarette, the lighted end of the cigarette is introduced into the opening 31 into the bore 2-6 to drop to the bottom end 28 ot the bore. The bore 26 is dimensioned so as a practically eliminate oxygen within the bore when the cigarette is dropped therein, thereby quickly extinguishing the lighted end due to the lack of oxygen. The body 10 preferably cornprises material in its blocks 11 and 12 of relatively high heat conductive material, such as aluminum, steel or the like, so that heat is dissipated quickly from the lighted end while it is being extinguished.

The bore 27 is adapted for receiving the cigarette butt after it has been extinguished so that the cigarette butt may be conveniently stored for reuse if desired. To facilitate removal of the cigarette butt from the bore 2'7, the bore is preferably located adjacent to one side 32 of the body 10 and positioned relative to the side so as to intersect the side in a manner to form a longitudinal slot 33 communicating between the bore 27 and the exterior of the body it). In this manner, a portion of the cigarette residing in the bore 27, indicated by the numeral 34 in FIGURES 3 and 4, extends through the slot 33 so as to be instantly accessible by a finger of the smoker for extruding or sliding the cigarette outwardly of the bore.

The slot 33, as illustrated herein, is preferably relatively narrow at its upper end 36 as seen in FIG. 1, adjacent to the opening 37 or" the bore?! and relatively wide at its opposite blind ends 3d. For more practical forming such a tapered slot 33, the longitudinal axis of the bore 27, as indicated by the numeral 39 in FIG. and by the position of the cigarette 45 in the bore 27, as seen in FIG. 2, is preferably angular in relationship to the side 32 wherein the side 32 is substantially parallel to the axes of rotation of the fastener 16 and/or to an opposite side designated by the numeral il. Optionally, the side 32, as indicated by the numeral 32' in FEGURE 5, may be arranged in angular relationship to the axis of the fastener 16 and in angular, non-parallel relationship to the opposite side il so as to be in a different non-parallel relationship with the axis 39 of the bore 27 from that described above. In either method or" manufacture, the bore 27 of the first embodiment and the bore 27' of the second embodiment are formed so as to be in non-parallel relationship to their respective sides 32 and 32' of the devices it and it), respectively, whereby the slots 33 and 33' are formed with relatively narrow entrance portions 36 adjacent to the ends 37 and 37' or" the slots 33 and 33 and relatively wide at the bases 3-8 and 38, respectively, thereof.

In all other respects, the embodiment of FIGURE 5 is shown as being substantially the same as the first embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 4, therefore, like parts are indicated by like numbers in both embodiments with the exceptions as noted.

In both embodiments, the block portion 11 is rotatable relative to the block portion 12 thereby causing the lower portions 28 and 29 of their respective bores 26 and 27 to be displaced relative to the portions extending through the block 11.

The burnt portion of the cigarette 45 which is cut off during the cutting operation, may be easily and readily disposed of from the bore 27 through the slots 33. The burnt portion may also be conveniently discharged from the lower portion of the bore 26 if the cigarette is out while residing in the bore 2:6 by rotating the bottom block 12 relative to the block it as indicated in FIGURE 4 to expose the lower end of the bore.

In this manner, when it is desired to temporarily extinguish the lighted end of a cigarette or to cut down on smoking by intermittently lighting and extinguishing a cigarette, the lighted end of the cigarette may be dropped in to the bore 26 for extinguishing the end. While in the bore 26, or after being transferred into the bore 27, the blocks ll and 12 may be rotated relative to each other to the operative position in FIGURE 4 to cut oil the burnt end. In the event that the cigarette resides in the bore 27, it may be easily and readily removed therefrom by manual contact of the arcuate portion of the cigarette 34 extending through the slot 33 with a finger of a smoker so that it can be slid or extruded outwardly ofthe bore 27. The cigarette may be cut in either one of the bores 26 or 2'7, as desired. This operation provides a cigarette butt which has relatively fresh and unburned tobacco exposed which has a much better taste and odor than that of a cigarette butt which has been previously extinguished and the burnt end is relit.

While there is herein shown and described what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments of this invention, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of this invention which is not limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A smoking appliance which comprises:

(a) a body including first and second blocks; each comprising coinciding polygonal sections;

(b) means rotatably connecting said first andsecond blocks;

(c) said first block including means defining an extinguishing well comprising a first bore extending thercthrough adapted to receive a cigarette, the axis of said bore being substantially parallel to and oliset from the axis of rotation of said rotatable connecting means;

(d) said second block including means defining a first blind bore adapted to receive the ash end of a cigarette disposed in said first bore in the first block, said first blind bore being positioned with respect to the first bore in said first block so as to provide a continuation of said first bore; and

(e) said first and second blocks having adjacent abutting ends, said abutting ends defining cutting edges comprising cutting means when said first and second blocks are rotated relative to each other between a position where said bores are disposed as a continuation of each other and a position where the bores are out of alignment.

2. A smoking appliance which comprises:

(a) a first and second block, each comprising coinciding polygonal sectioned pontions, wherein each section comprises a polygon having a pair of parallel sides materially longer than any other side thereof, and wherein each block has a face having said polygonal section in contact with a similar face of the other;

(b) means for connecting said first and second block to allow rotatable movement thcrebctween, said connecting means being centrally located with respect to the peripheral sides of said sections;

(0) means defining an extinguishing bore extending through said first block and into said second block in at least one rotatable position of said blocks; and

(d) the adjacent faces of the respective blocks having cutting edges positioned with respect to the bore so that rotative movement of the blocks causes shearing of an object seated within said bore, and continued rotation thereof aligns said blocks such that the bore in one of said block members has opposite open end portions positioned without the confines of the polygonal section of the other whereby the contents in the bore in either block may be removed therefrom independently of that of the other.

3. A smoking appliance as defined in claim 2 wherein any F J said centrally located connecting means includes resilient means centered on the connecting means for evenly biasing said first and second blocks toward each other.

4. A smoking appliance as defined in claim 1 wherein the first bore is relatively longer than the depth of the 5 first blind bore, to wit, of the order of at least substantially five times the depth of the first blind bore, to fully admit the ash and burned end of a cigarette in the said first blind bore.

6 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A SMOKING APPLIANCE WHICH COMPRISES: (A) A BODY INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND BLOCKS; EACH COMPRISING COINCIDING POLYGONAL SECTIONS; (B) MEANS ROTATABLY CONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND BLOCKS; (C) SAID FIRST BLOCK INCLUDING MEANS DEFINING AN EXTINGUISHING WELL COMPRISING A FIRST BORE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A CIGARETTE, THE AXIS OF SAID BORE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO AND OFFSET FROM THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID ROTATABLE CONNECTING MEANS; (D) SAID SECOND BLOCK INCLUDING MEANS DEFINING A FIRST BLIND BORE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE ASH END OF A CIGARETTE DISPOSED IN SAID FIRST BORE IN THE FIRST BLOCK, SAID FIRST BLIND BORE BEING POSITIONED WITH RESPECT TO THE FIRST BORE IN SAID FIRST BLOCK SO AS TO PROVIDE A CONTINUACTION OF SAID FIRST BORE; AND (E) SAID FIRST AND SECOND BLOCKS HAVING ADJACENT ABUTTING ENDS, SAID ABUTTING ENDS DEFINING CUTTING EDGES COMPRISING CUTTING MEANS WHEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND BLOCKS ARE ROTATED RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER BETWEEN A POSITION WHERE SAID BORES ARE DISPOSED AS A CONTINUATION OF EACH OTHER AND A POSITION WHERE THE BORES ARE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. 